7 replies to this topic

[Wesley927]

Hey guys, I just left for a four day vacation and realized I left my ants without food. They have water though, they are still in a Test Tube. There’s one queen and six workers, and some eggs. Can they survive four days without food/sugar?

[Canadian anter]

They could probably survive weeks

[Aaron567]

They can easily survive four days without food. 

[Cindy]

I'll be back in MA tomorrow and I'll let you know how they've been doing for the last 10 days.

[souljah212]

I was wondering the same thing. I plan to be away for about 3 to 4 weeks, with no one to check on them for me. Any by then probably only having a few workers, will they be able to survive a month without food? 

[dermy]

I was wondering the same thing. I plan to be away for about 3 to 4 weeks, with no one to check on them for me. Any by then probably only having a few workers, will they be able to survive a month without food? 

With this long of a period, [assuming they are temperate ants that usually hibernate]. I would recommended putting them into a hibernational state. Make sure you feed them pretty good [and clean up the food afterwards] before you put them somewhere cool. Since a month without food [esp. for a small colony] might be too much for them.

[souljah212]

Thanks for the advice! 

[Cindy]

The ants were fine for 10 days without food. They were ravenous though, given all the newly eclosed workers.